Type 2 before breafast - Is this normal

[Kezzer4321]

Hi everyone,

I am fairly new to this site and to testing my blood. I have been a Type 2 diabetic since 2010 - but unfortunately in denial!! So at last I am now trying to get to grips with everything. I am starting to loose weight and I joined the testing program about 3 weeks ago and have quickly found that what the diabetes clinic says I should be eating and what my blood tests show are two very different things.

Anyway I have a question/query that I am hoping someone can help me with. I usually have my breakfast about 8:15 - 8:30am most mornings once I arrive at work. I get up around 6:30am and leave for the office at 7am as I start work at 7:45/8:00am. When I test my blood before breakfast and taking my meds, it always seems to very high ie 8.1, 9.6 and after breakfast every higher still 11.2, 13.0 (mon-thu breakfast is 1 slice of granary bread with butter and marmite).

My bloods are normally okay when I test them 2 hours after dinner, and I have a small snack around 9pm such as a piece of fruit or some nuts and this doesn’t seem to affect my sugar levels much either.

So this morning I decided to check my bloods when I got up and they were 6.6, but by the time I got to work and was in a position to eat (8:10am) they were 9.8.

So what I want to know is, why are my blood sugars shooting up when I haven’t eaten or drunk anything and is this normal? Should I be trying to have my breakfast or meds earlier?

Any advice would be welcome.
Kerry

 

[Squire Fulwood]

The most likely answer is a liver rush also known as the dawn phenomenon. The liver supplies glucose when you haven't eaten for some time and I suppose this is what you are reading. You could eat something when you get up which might stop the liver rush. For me bread is a no no so maybe you can think of something else to test out this theory.

Another poster had a breakfast problem and ended up hard boiling some eggs the night before. Quick easy and ready packaged. It will be interesting to know if this cures the high sugar reading.

 

[Lenny3]

I suffer with dawn phenomenon too. Most mornings its ok as I have my breakfast within 30 mins or so of waking. However I dread my fasting blood test mornings. Due to getting up and down to the doctors then waiting for my appointment it's usually 2 hours before I get something to eat, by then I feel really rough and my sugars are in the 10's. Just glad thats only once a year! I did find the other morning I dozed off again and woke up almost 2 hours later feeling so rough. Wish I'd got up when I first stirred.

 

[Bluetit1802]

Hello and welcome to the forum, Kerry,

Well done on coming out of denial and trying to get to grips with all this.

I agree it looks like a liver dump. I would suggest you have breakfast before you leave for work. Maybe boiled eggs as suggested above, or perhaps a plain Greek yogurt with a few berries thrown in (quick and easy and very filling so you won't feel like the bread at work)

Bread can be difficult for type 2's, similarly potatoes, rice and pasta. Do use your meter to test out these foods.

 

[douglas99]

My BS was high in thee morning initially.
It takes time for your body to adjust to your new diet, so hopefully you will see it start to drop. (Mine's still falling after 18 months, to give you an idea of timescale)
As said though, if granary bread is pushing it up further, try something else, and try eating something before you leave home.

 

[annelise]

The most likely answer is a liver rush also known as the dawn phenomenon. The liver supplies glucose when you haven't eaten for some time and I suppose this is what you are reading. You could eat something when you get up which might stop the liver rush. For me bread is a no no so maybe you can think of something else to test out this theory.

Another poster had a breakfast problem and ended up hard boiling some eggs the night before. Quick easy and ready packaged. It will be interesting to know if this cures the high sugar reading.

I am with Squire Fulwood here.

– Also I test my fbg (fasting blood glucose) as soon as I get out of bed and before doing 'things'. I don't wait till before breakfast (not much of a breakfast eater myself).

The so-called dawn phenomenon is your liver thinking 'oh, well, this person will need to have some glucose for energy so I will dump some!' – I often wish I could argue with my liver here …

annelise

 

[Kezzer4321]

Thank you every one for your replies its all very helpful. I feel a bit better knowing that it could be the dawn phenomenon. I will try adjusting my timings so I can have breakfast before I go to work. and see if this helps things along.

I'm currently using my meter to test foods and am amazed at some of the responses. There are some meals that I have considered really healthy and good for me, which I have found spike my blood sugar levels really badly. Couscous which I love - hates me!! as does any kind of rice. I am fine with new boiled potatoes - but potatoes done any other way seem to be a no. Bread I try to avoid except for my breakfast but I will try to find some alternatives now and see how it goes.

I really wish I had discovered this site when I was newly diagnosed - as I've received more good information from here than I have over the last 3 years from my doctors. The dietician I saw at the beginning told me that a third of every meal should be carbohydrates... now I'm beginning to see how wrong that is. Whilst I know I wont always be a saint...(How can I live in a world without chips!! ), at lease now I'm starting to understand how food, even so called 'healthy' foods affect me personally.

Thanks again
Kerry

 

[Bluetit1802]

Well done Kerry on using your meter to learn.
You can also use it to try out your "no" foods again, but with smaller portions. You may also be surprised with that, in a happy way!
Have you tried a few chips? I am delighted to say I can manage a few homemade with an otherwise low-carb meal (half a dozen max) with no spike. Maybe you can. Who knows!

 

[swissone]

This may not work for all, but I have discovered a breakfast which suits me very well. Inspite of the sugar content (my levels are fine with this), 1 freshly juiced orange, 1 no-fat yoghurt mixed with a handful of rolled oats, half a banana, some hazelnuts and a few raisins. I'm type 2 and lucky enough to be monitored by my doctor with 3-monthly appointments. I check my levels (under 7 fasting and between 4 and 9 post-prandial - never to go over 10 according to her, and she is a specialist), then she checks the Hb1Ac levels (5.3 last time). This gives me enough energy until lunch.

It took a while for me to find this solution and I know it won't satisfy everyone. But you see, my diabetes is now under control. I am losing weight slowly (still have 3.5kg to lose until I'm happy) but I will get there. The rest of my diet is a mixture of what we are told by dieticians (can anyone tell me how they get their qualifications?) and what I can glean from this site. Please everyone watch your blood pressure and your cholesterol levels. We are more at risk than others for these horrors.

 

[Brunneria]

My blood glucose is quite low on waking, but then rises all morning until I eat.

But I've discovered that eating a tiny snack (cheese string, 6 cashews or a Brazil nut) will stop it rising. So I eat one in bed, before I get out of bed, and my BG stays low til brekkie.

Maybe it would work for you too.

 

[Kezzer4321]

Hi All,

Just wanted to update you on my success this morning. My bloods this morning were 6.7, I ate a handful of nuts and took half my meds, got to work and had my breakfast at 8:15. Before breakfast my bloods were 6.9 and after breakfast 5.9. Woo hoo Its the first time I've been under 8 in the morning since I started testing. I also took everyone's advice and ditched the bread this morning and had mushrooms and scrambled eggs.

Next week I am going to start having my breakfast before leaving for work and hopefully this will give me even better readings.

So thanks again.
Kerry